MP: Four collectors served notices for 'fudging' compensation

The MP government on Thursday served show cause notices on four district collectors for fudging distribution of compensation to hail and rain- hit farmers, according to secretariat sources.

The notices were issued to the collectors of Chhindwara, Betul, Morena and Chhatarpur districts by chief secretary Anthony de Sa, the sources said.

Earlier, principal secretary revenue Arun Tiwari was removed unceremoniously from his post for not issuing notification for the revised rates of compensation to the orange and Isabgol growers despite the chief minister’s announcement for the same about two months ago.

Regarding Thursday’s show cause notices, a highly placed source said, “They (the collectors) presented false figures of compensation to farmers during video conferencing with chief minister earlier this week.”

It was found that these collectors drew money slotted for compensation to the farmers from the bank account and deposited it into another account. This gave an impression that the compensation to farmers was distributed but the fact was just the opposite, said the official.

Earlier, Tiwari was removed after a video conferencing with the district collectors and divisional commissioners.

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was interacting with the collectors and asked them about the status of compensation distribution to farmers.

Some collectors had then informed the chief minister about distribution of the compensation for oranges and isabgol at older rates.

When the chief minister asked why they didn’t compensate farmers on the revised rates, he was informed that the notification for the new rates had not been issued yet.

The chief minister had then immediately asked the principal secretary revenue as to why the notification was not issued.

He clarified that the files for notification were with the finance department but the government issued his shifting orders immediately, sending a terse message to other officials on the government’s stand on the distribution of compensation to the farmers.